Living Arrows - May 2020

Wow, another month has been and gone - another month in lockdown. How is everyone? I hope you are all well. I chose these snaps because they pretty much sum up the entirety of May for us, the same as many other families I presume! Here is last month's post.

We spent most time outside, enjoying the endless sunshine in the paddling pool. It great to just go with the flow and slow down with one another, although I think we are starting to miss the routine of daily life now. The kids go through days of loving life, feeling frustrated, and wanting to do normal things. It feels like we've been in lockdown for such a long time now - like an endless weekend. I know that when things go back to some sort of normal that we'll miss this time so we do try to make the most of every moment. 

Kindi Kids Rainbow Kate Toddler Doll & Kindi Fun Delivery Scooter - Review

AD - We were sent these products for the purpose of this review.

We are now almost 10 weeks into lockdown and as the weeks have passed by I've found the kids getting more and more restless, in particular, Ava. With her only being 3 years old she doesn't understand what is going on in the world or why she isn't able to go visit her family, go to playgroup, the park, and so on. We've been telling her that everywhere is closed and people are poorly but you can see the frustration is still there - it's difficult for her because she is such a social child that doesn't like being cooped up.

I was delighted when I received an email titled Kindi Kids - a campaign that is all about helping children maintain friendships and some sort of routine through lockdown. It honestly couldn't have come at a better time. Ava received some lovely Kindi Kids toys to review and also a number of activity cards to keep her busy, entertained, and happy during lockdown and beyond.

We received the Kindi Kids Rainbow Kate Toddler Doll (RRP: £25.00) and Kindi Kids Kindi Fun Delivery Scooter (RRP: £15.00) for the purpose of this review - as you can see both looked amazing and so inviting in their packaging. Both toys are from Moose Toys and are suitable for children from 3 years of age. Ava's face was a picture when she opened the box to find these toys; Rainbow Kate, a new friend!

Rainbow Kate is possibly one of the most beautiful dolls we've ever seen. She stands at 10 inches tall and is bright, colourful, and is described as always fun and positive - a new Best Friend. She has big, glittery eyes, glossy rainbow coloured hair, and a head that bobbles with every movement. She wears the cutest dress and shoes, which are removable and can be changed with other Kindi dolls. She also comes with Shopkins accessories; a spin top cupcake and a magic sparkly slushie - place the straw up to her lips and watch her take a sip!

The Kindi Fun Delivery Scooter is the perfect size for all Kindi Kids dolls - ideal for riding around to deliver Shopkins to one another. It's so appealing and is a very sturdy and well-made toy. Simply push the scooter along and see it's cute face and wiggly ears - it's guaranteed to make your kids smile! It comes with 2 exclusive Shopkins: a Smoothie Shopkin and a Strawberry Shopkin - both super cute! There is a drinks holder on the front which is perfect for the Smoothie Shopkin and the carrier on the back is just the right size for any other Shopkins you may want to deliver.

Ava has had so much fun with Rainbow Kate and the scooter over the past week or so - so much so I had to order her another Kindi Kids doll because she was adamant the Rainbow Kate needed a sister! They are such well made, beautiful toys that I really didn't mind and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending them to a friend. Both these toys are suitable for children from 3 years of age and are available online at Argos.

Would your child like these toys?

Finding Local Childcare With Childcare.co.uk

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As we enter the 9th week of lockdown I've had a lot of time to think about aspects of our life as a family, and what things we might change once everything is safe and we are back to normal. Nick and I have been together for over ten years and have been parents for 6 of those years. Our life revolves around Noah and Ava, and rightly so, however, we often forget that we are more than just parents, we are a couple too.

Yes, guilty as charged - lockdown has me dreaming of booking in some childcare and having a night on the town - a lovely meal and perhaps a trip to the cinema! I usually ask the grandparents to look after the kids but that's not always feasible for an array of different reasons - this is where Childcare.co.uk comes in. Trusted by over 2 million users it's the one-stop-shop for all your childcare needs and more.

Getting started and website navigation

Registration is free and only takes a matter of minutes - you can sign up the regular way with an email address, or you can log in through your Facebook account. There's also a Childcare.co.uk app for iPhone and Android which I've also checked out and would highly recommend. I found the whole process and the website simple and quick to use - absolutely no complaints there.

Childcare search

Childcare.co.uk offers services from childminders, babysitters, nannies, au pairs, midwife, doula, nursery, tutors, schools, after school clubs, household help, and now even virtual nannies and tutors - it's very impressive. You simply select what you are looking for, pop in your postcode and click search. I searched for local babysitters, and 53 suggestions appeared in a 5-mile radius, each showing their name, photo, location, and a profile about them. There's also an option to do an advanced search if you'd prefer a non-smoker, male or female, distance, etc.

Childcare job search

Maybe you are looking for a childcare job? You can do that here too. Simply sign up to the website for free and create a profile listing the service you provide, your experience, qualifications, availability, fees, and so on - families will then be able to contact you. If you upgrade to their Gold membership you will have access to around 170 training courses from different providers and there are even more benefits to be had.

I'm delighted that I discovered Childcare.co.uk. It's a great resource for finding all your childcare needs - I can imagine it being an invaluable service during lockdown too as some families are really struggling when it comes to work and finding childcare. The website also features lots of help and support, health and safety tips, and so much more. I can't recommend it enough. Are you familiar with the website?

Helping Your Child Develop Their Social Skills

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Social skills are no different to the other skills small children need to learn. Some pick up walking and talking easily, others struggle – some learn to run and jump very easily, others take longer.

Social skills are something that might take a little longer for some children. If your child is struggling with social skills then you may have noticed some of the following tell-tale signs.

· An unwillingness to join in games with other children

· Difficulty controlling emotions such as anger and excitement

· Shyness around adults they’re unfamiliar with

· Hitting or pushing other children

Whilst all of these are completely normal up to a point, there comes a time when the world at large expects more from a child. Children entering pre-school are expected to have gained some self-control, but it’s also accepted that these skills can take time to settle in. This pre school in Lincoln places a strong emphasis on gently introducing children to the small responsibilities which help them to mature socially. Little tasks and regular jobs give children a sense of belonging and help them to work as part of a team.

The key point to remember if you’re worried about your child is that pre-school can really help advance social skills much more quickly than you might imagine. A daily routine and professional supervision will have an amazing impact on most children. Here are some top tips to help you help your child develop their social skills.

· Give them small responsibilities – little jobs such as tidying away their own toys and clothing help children to build confidence

· Ensure they’re regularly introduced to other children – whether through playdates or clubs and activities

· Set boundaries – hitting and pushing should be dealt with immediately and with a firm reaction

· Talk to them about feelings – small children have little experience when it comes to emotions so be open with them

What if my child continues to struggle?

Some children simply take longer. Others might be naturally introverted and prefer small group interactions to larger ones. Just because you’re sociable, it’s important to remember that this does not necessarily mean your child will be too.

Speak to your child’s teacher. This will help you to work out if the problem is affecting them at school. It might be that your child is different in the classroom than they are when they’re out and about with you. Teachers are also highly skilled when it comes to helping children learn social skills. An open dialogue will help you to help your child more effectively.

How Long Does it Take to Get Pregnant?

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If you have decided you would like to have a baby, you might be hoping to become pregnant quite quickly. Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t always happen this way and it’s perfectly normal for different women to take different lengths of time to conceive. There are various factors at play when it comes to fertility, including things like age and general health of both parties, in addition to how often they have sex. A fertility clinic in London has prepared the following information regarding pregnancy and how long it takes.

First of all, there’s the matter of contraception. If you were previously using contraception before you decided to have a baby, it may take different lengths of time for your fertility to regulate. You will need to ovulate frequently again, have an “embryo-friendly” uterus and fertile cervical mucus. Of course, if you were using barrier methods such as condoms then your fertility won’t have been affected, but things like the implant of an oral contraceptive pill may alter your fertility for longer.

For most couples who are having regular, unprotected sex, it should take a year (perhaps two) to become pregnant. If you have been trying to conceive unsuccessfully for this length of time, it would be wise to book an appointment with your doctor, as they might be able to help figure out why you are not able to conceive. Sometimes, it can be easily remedied. For instance, if you or your partner are smoking or drinking a lot of alcohol, you will need to stop to help improve fertility.

You will need to ensure you are timing your intercourse based on your most fertile days of the month. Ovulation usually happens around 10-16 days before your period, and this is the best time to try and conceive. There are kits you can use to help you determine whether or not you are ovulating. If necessary, your doctor can talk to you about some treatment options to help you conceive, such as IVF or sperm donation.